Regatta Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Regatta Hotel |
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View from Coronation Drive, 2020
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| Location | 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Richard Gailey |
| Website | http://www.regattahotel.com.au/ |
| Official name: Regatta Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600331 |
| Significant period | 1880s (fabric) 1886-Ongoing (historical use) |
| Significant components | cellar |
| Builders | George Gazzard |
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The Regatta Hotel is a historic hotel located at 543 Coronation Drive in Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It sits right by the Brisbane River and was named after the rowing races that used to happen there. The hotel was designed by Richard Gailey and built in 1886 by George Gazzard. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, meaning it's an important historical building.
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History of the Regatta Hotel
The very first hotel on this spot was a small wooden building built in 1874.
In 1886, the current Regatta Hotel was built. It's a much bigger, three-story brick building. The old wooden hotel was taken down to make space for it. The new Regatta was designed by a Brisbane architect named Richard Gailey. He asked builders to bid for the job in February 1886. It was built by George Gazzard for about £4,800.
The Regatta was one of many large, fancy brick hotels designed by Gailey in the 1880s. Other hotels he designed include the Wickham Hotel (1885) and the Prince Consort Hotel (1887). These hotels were built to attract both local people and visitors. They replaced older, simpler hotels and showed the excitement of Queensland's growing economy in the 1880s.
William Winterford, the hotel owner, opened his new hotel in 1887. He hoped guests would love the river views and how close it was to the city and the Toowong railway station. He also offered fun activities like billiards and boating. The hotel had a good wine cellar, large bedrooms, and even hot and cold baths. But even with all these comforts, it was hard to attract enough guests.
The hotel was first flooded in 1887, and then again in 1893. Not enough customers and big floods in 1893 almost ruined Winterford. In 1897, he lost the Regatta to the people he owed money to.
However, the Regatta Hotel managed to survive and became successful over time, even with different owners.
Women's Rights Protest
A famous protest for women's liberation happened at the Regatta Hotel in 1965. Two women, Merle Thornton and Rosalie Bognor, chained themselves to the bar rail. They were protesting that women were not allowed in public bars in Queensland. This protest helped change the law in Queensland in 1970. In 2014, the hotel named one of its bars "Merle's Bar" to remember this important event. This protest was later recognized as a "Defining Moment" in Queensland's history.
The hotel was updated in 1981 and then renovated again between 2001 and 2004. It was turned into several modern bars and nightclubs.
In the late 1900s, many students and staff from The University of Queensland enjoyed visiting the Regatta's bars.
The Regatta Hotel was damaged during the big 2010–2011 Queensland floods. About $10 million was spent on repairs. The hotel officially reopened in September 2012.
What the Regatta Hotel Looks Like
The Regatta Hotel is a brick building with sloping corrugated-iron roofs. It stands out next to the Brisbane River. It has three stories and a basement. The building is surrounded by wide verandahs (covered porches), except for one part on the south side.
The verandahs facing the street have fancy cast-iron railings and columns. These parts of the building curve around the street corner and have a solid wall on top decorated with stone ornaments.
The verandahs on the south and west sides are simpler. They have wooden posts and brackets. A painted elevator shaft was added to the south side, and a fire escape staircase was added to the west side.
The ground floor has three bars, service areas, and an entrance. It has been updated. The original openings to the verandah are now sliding glass windows and doors. Some parts of the verandah have been closed off with brick to make room for toilets. The main entrance still has its original doors and arched openings. A unique wooden staircase at the back of the entrance goes up in one flight, curving at the bottom.
The first floor has a bar, a dining room for guests, offices, a kitchen, and a guest suite. The bar used to be a dining room. It has a marble fireplace and two curved French doors that open onto the northeast corner of the verandah. The manager's home and more guest rooms are on the second floor.
The inside of the first and second floors still has original features. These include pressed metal ceilings and plastered walls with arches and decorations. Wooden doors with fanlights (small windows above the door) open off the main hallway. French doors with fanlights lead from the bedrooms to the verandahs.
Some parts of the verandahs on the first floor (north and west sides) have been enclosed with glass walls. The Regatta Hotel still looks mostly the same from the outside and is a well-known landmark along the Brisbane River.
The Heritage Bar on the ground floor has comfy leather couches and a large fireplace.
Why the Regatta Hotel is a Heritage Site
The Regatta Hotel is recognized by the National Trust of Queensland and was listed on the Register of the National Estate.
It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed.
The Regatta Hotel is important because it shows the excitement of the 1880s economic boom. It also reminds us that this part of the Brisbane River was once used for sports and fun activities.
- It shows what a certain type of historic building looks like.
It is a great example of a large, fancy hotel from the 1880s that is still mostly in its original condition.
- It is beautiful and important to the community.
People value the hotel's beauty. It is a famous landmark that adds to the look of the Brisbane River.
- It is connected to important people or groups in Queensland's history.
The Regatta Hotel is linked to the work of architect Richard Gailey. It is one of several large hotels he designed in the 1880s. These hotels add to Brisbane's unique look with their grand size, use of cast-iron, and classic designs.
Images for kids
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Regatta facade as seen from Sylvan Rd
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Regatta function room
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The Courtyard
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Main Bar
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Merle's Bar
